Hundreds of Boston Janitors Strike

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, September 29, 2002

BOSTON (AP) _ Hundreds of janitors walked off the job Monday at Boston's World Trade Center and several downtown offices in a strike over pay and benefits.

Officials with Service Employees International Union Local 254 said more than 1,000 of its roughly 10,000 Boston area members walked out, with more expected as the week progresses.

They targeted Unicco, which provides cleaning service to 1,450 buildings in and around the city, and other smaller cleaning companies. The strike will continue indefinitely, union spokeswoman Sylvia Panfil said.

Panfil said the two sides remain far apart on issues including health care, sick days and full-time work opportunities. Unicco has said it will not give in to the workers' demand, and has accused the union of distorting the truth about the contract negotiations.

The strike is the latest round in a national push by SEIU to raise working standards.